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A near-capacity crowd gave an emotional sendoff Sunday to Arild Remmereit, who was fired last month as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra's music director.

He led the Rochester Chamber Orchestra in a superbly performed program of classical symphonies and short Romantic pieces. This benefit at Hochstein Performance Hall raised $25,000 for the RCO and gave Remmereit's local admirers a chance to say goodbye before he resumes his career as globetrotting guest conductor.

The RCO includes many RPO players, and their familiarity with Remmereit's conducting style proved a blessing for ...